If you have a business, have you ever wondered why you are in business? I wonder that quite often, especially since my business does not contribute to the family financially, and it takes a lot of time and energy. I sometimes feel that the business takes away too much of me and maybe I should cut back or quit.
My goal is really to provide a gift that provides meaning or bridges relationships, or does SOMETHING good in a life. Today, I got an e-mail from someone who has given me the ultimate compliment and motivates me to stay in business and keep going even though sometimes it seems too much for me.
This is what happened. A lady called me on a Saturday a few weeks ago and seemed very upset. I really had a hard time understanding what she wanted and hoped when it was all done that I had understood everything correctly. I understood her to say that she wanted a sister angel for her sister that had just been diagnosed with cancer. She also wanted another angel for her daughter, but I was a little confused as to what all was going on. I sent her two angels, personalized like I believe she wanted, and prayed for the best result. She e-mailed me when she received them and thanked me for talking to her in a calm way as she had been very upset and almost incoherent. I did get the order right, and I had understood her correctly about her sister. She had just been diagnosed with liver cancer and was terminal. It was no wonder that she was so upset. Turns out she wanted a sister angel not only for her sister to have now, but also to bury her with. Wow, I didn't know what to say to that.
She wrote to me again today to tell me that her sister had passed away yesterday. Here's an excerpt from her e-mail, with a few changes to protect her privacy:"My sister J passed away yesterday from liver cancer and it was horrible to watch the stages that a person with that disease goes though. J's bear sat on a shelf watching her in the hospice hospital through it all and it will now go with her to heaven, I wanted to let you know what comfort it gave me, her having that sister bear and to say thank you so much , your bears are a wonderful feeling of comfort not only to my sister but to me..."
I am so humbled, I was in tears reading this. I think this is what God gave me this business for, an extension of His comfort.....
Situations like this, sad as they are, put everything in my life into perspective. What is really important in my life? What is really important in my business? The people who purchase my products and find comfort in that product for themselves, or bring comfort to someone else through the visual aid of my product, makes it all seem worthwhile.
I believe that products made by someone's hands, like those of my friends at Unique Crafters, are ones that can express the heartfelt sentiments that this woman did with my sister angel bear. Check out the other crafts that are available, I think you'll find many that you would like for your own purposes.
